Device for the production of aerosols



Nov; 28; 1967 r H. DE KERIVILY 7 3,355,571

DEVICE' FOR THE PRODUCTION OF AEROSOLS Filed April e, 71965 IN vg/v TORHENRY de KERN/L7 I 4 T702 NE 75 United States Patent DEVICE FOR THEPRODUCTION OF AEROSOLS Henry de Kerivily, 12 Rue Angelique-Verien,Neuilly-sur-Seine, France Filed Apr. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 445,894 Claimspriority, application France, Apr. 7, 1964, 970,052, Patent 1,402,924 2Claims. (Cl. 219-214) This invention relates to a device for theproduction and diffusion of aerosols, and more especially dry aerosolswhich can be employed for a number of different purposes such as, inparticular, the disinfection of premises or therapeutic fumigations.

It is well known to prepare and diffuse aerosols. However, aerosolsusually consist of fine droplets of water or similar liquid whichcontain the active products in solution and which are therefore liableeither to produce deposits and thus to soil the walls of a room in whichthey are dispersed or to be unfit for use as medical aerosols on accountof the size of particles of which they are formed and/or on account ofthe presence of a liquid carrier.

The device for the production of aerosols in accordance with thisinvention makes it possible on the contrary to obtain dry aerosols andconsequently circumvents all of the above-mentioned disadvantages aswell as many others of like nature.

The device according to the invention essentially comprises thecombination of a pressure container for discharging the solution to besprayed in the form of a mist, a tube into which the mist thusdischarged is directed, and suitable heating means associated with saidtube.

The use of a pressure container, or more generally of a device forproducing a mist as a result of the expansion of a gas is attended by alarge number of unexpected advantages. Among these can be mentioned inparticular:

Elimination of all spraying devices for the production of mist such ascompressed-air tanks, electric pumps, nozzles and the like in additionto the corresponding pipes, thereby dispensing with the need forperiodic cleaning of such components.

The pressure container constitutes a non-returnable package and can beimmediately replaced.

The pressure container ensures complete reliability in the preparationof the product contained therein and guarantees that this latter is infact the product originally made by the manufacturer and prevents anycontamination thereof prior to its use.

Since the mist or atomized spray is formed as a result of the suddenexpansion of a gas or of a highly volatile liquid, its temperature isvery low before passing into the heating tube. The heat which isreceived by the mist and which is employed mainly for the purpose ofevaporating the solution of active product does not bring said productto a temperature above 30 C. in respect of a temperature ofapproximately 110-115 C. of the atmosphere of the tube.

It is thus possible to obtain dry aerosols starting from solutions ofproducts which are very sensitive to heat.

The pressure container can be an aerosol dispenser of known type whichcontains the solution of product to be See It is preferable to ensurethat the valve-head of this pressure container is so designed that thedelivery of liquid is approximately in the range of 0.3 to 1.5 cubiccentimeters per second, although these limits are not critical.

The combination of tube and heating device essentially comprises a tubewhich is designed to be coupled to the head of the pressure container,means for heating said tube and heat-insulating material surroundingsaid-tube and its heating means with a View to maintaining said tube ata suitable temperature. As will be readily apparent, the device can befitted with a temperature-regulating system or thermostat which isplaced inside the tube and which permits the possibility of regulatingthe temperature of the tube to the desired value in each particularcase.

The heated tube can communicate directly with the atmosphere, forexample by way of a nozzle.

When it is more especially required to produce dry aerosols of medicinalproducts, the nOZZle referred-to above can either open directly into arespirator or into a chamber which serves as an aerosol collector andwhich is in turn connected to a respirator.

In an advantageous form of embodiment of the invention, the assembly ofthe heated tube and the aerosol dispenser or pressure container can beso adapted as to ensure that the displacement of the pressure containerini tiates the operation thereof. In particular, this displacement cancause the valve-head of the pressure container to bear against a portionof the member which serves to join the tube to the pressure container,thus actuating the container valving mechanism. As a particular feature,the junction can be carried into effect by means of an elbowed tubeagainst the wall of which the valve-head can be applied.

Whatever form of embodiment may be adopted, care is taken to ensure thatthe junction between heating tube and valve-head of the pressurecontainer is effected in such a manner that a sufiicient clearance isafforded to the mixture which is expelled from the container to ensurethat the mist or finely atomized spray is formed before passing into theheating tube.

Further characteristic features of the invention will be brought out inthe description which follows below, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings which are given solely by way of non-limitativeexample and in whcih:

FIG. 1 is a view in sectional elevation of one form of embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2. is a view in position of assembly of the elements for heatingand discharging of the aerosol;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views in diagrammatic sectional elevation of twoalternative forms of said device;

FIG. 5 is an alternative form, looking in the direction of the arr-ow Fof FIG. 1, of one mode of operation of the container valve head.

As shown more especiallyin FIG. 1, the device in accordance with theinvention comprises a chamber 1 on the outer wall of which is fixed abracket 2 for supporting an aerosol dispenser or pressure container 3,said bracket being designed, for example, in the form of a platform onwhich said container rests. For a reason which will be explained below,there can be passed through the abovementioned platform a bolt having ahead which is either knurled or provided with wings 4; said bolt isadapted to bear against the bottom of the pressure container 3.

There is disposed within the chamber 1 the heating tube 5 which extendsfrom the pressure container to the exterior and which is connected tosaid container :by means of a connector tube 6. Said connector tube hasa rightangled elbow and the second branch 7 thereof is adapted to fitover the valve-head of the pressure container 3. At least the tube 6 hasa sufiicient volume to ensure the formation of mist as the product isdischarged from the container. The head of said container 3 is appliedagainst an internal projection formed in the vicinity of the elbow 8 ofsaid tube, thereby actuating the container valving mechanism as will beexplained hereinafter. The tube is surrounded by an electric resistance9 which is supplied with current through a lead-wire 10 andplug-connector 11. Finally, the discharge nozzle 12 is located at theopposite extremity of the tube 5. As a preferable feature, the interiorof the chamber 1 is packed with glass-wool, as shown at 13.

The supply of current through the lead-wire 10 can be controlled by athermostat, for example by a bi-metallic strip placed inside the tube 5in such a manner that, when the interior of the tube has reached apredetermined temperature, the current supply can be cut oh and thensubsequently restored whenever this should prove necessary.

The apparatus which has just been described operates as follows: whenthe tube 5 has been brought to the desired temperature, the bolt 4 isscrewed up, thus lifting the pressure container 3 and applying the headof said container against the projection 8. A finely atomized spray istherefore discharged from the container.

As a preferable feature, the free end of the welded portion 7 of theconnector tube is fitted with a sealing member such as a rubber washerwhich is applied against the top of the container.

The mist or vapor produced by the spray discharge of the solutioncontained in the pressure container is heated as it passes through thetube 5; the liquid in which the active products are present evaporates,with the result that a dry aerosol composed of extremely fine particlesis discharged through the nozzle 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the diiferent elements which have just beendescribed, in particular the tube 6 on the one hand and the tube 5 onthe other hand and finally the nozzle 12 are preferably assembled insuch a manner as to permit of subsequent disassembly, said assemblybeing carried out, for example, by screwing.

The aerosol which is delivered from the apparatus can be dischargeddirectly into the atmosphere through the nozzle 12.

In an alternative form which is shown in FIG. 3, and which is especiallydirected to the production and utilization of an aerosol having atherapeutic action, this aerosol can be collected in a chamber 14 towhich a respirator 15 is connected through the opening formed in thecover 16 of said chamber 14. By means of this expedient, those particlescontained in the aerosol which are too large either in volume or inweight can accordingly be deposited in the bottom of the chamber 14without being inhaled by the patient.

Provision can also be made as shown in FIG. 4 for a flexible hose oflarge diameter such as the hose 17 which terminates in a mouthpiece 18,said mouthpiece being designed to fit over the patients mouth and nose.The hose 17 is mounted directly at the outlet of the nozzle 12 and thoseaerosol particles which may be either too large or too heavy can also bedeposited in said tube.

As can be observed from the drawings, this apparatus readily constitutesa portable unit which can be carried by means of the handle 19 fixed atthe top of the chamber 1.

As will be apparent, the pressure container is chosen according to theparticular use for which the apparatus 4 is intended and can havedifferent capacities, for example of the order of 250 cubic centimetersin the case of medicinal sprays or up to a value of the order of oneliter in the case of disinfectants to be sprayed in apartments, stablesand so forth.

With the above object in view, the member 2 which supports the pressurecontainer can comprise a system of adjustment for height of thecontainer base with respect to the chamber 1, thus making it possible toadapt the apparatus to the various heights of different pressurecontainers which may be employed therein.

In the alternative form of FIG. 5, the pressure container 3 is placedhead downwards and the head rests on the lever 19 which is pivoted at20; said lever is operated by a cam 21 which is keyed at the end of arod 22. Said rod passes through the wall 1 and its movement of rotationis controlled from the exterior by means of the knob 23. The jet isdischarged from the head of the container at right angles to the planeof the drawing so as to be directed into the tube 5.

In this last-mentioned form of embodiment as in the form of embodimentof FIG. 1, the container head can be located at a distance of the orderof one centimetre from the inlet of the tube without being materiallyconnected to said inlet.

As will be readily understood, the modes of execution of the inventionwhich have just been described have been given only by way of exampleand not in any limiting sense, and any detail modifications can be madetherein without consequently departing from the scope or the spirit ofthe invention.

What I claim is:

1. A device for the production of dry aerosols from solutions, whichcomprises:

a pressure container for discharging the solution under pressure, saidpressure container having a projecting head through which the solutionis discharged;

a first conduit mounted at one end thereof on said head and extendingaway therefrom, said first conduit having an enlarged free spacetherewithin into which the solution flows and becomes present as a misttherein, said first conduit further including a first portion slidablysleeved on said head and a second portion extending at an angle to saidfirst portion, said enlarged free space being formed in said secondportion;

a second conduit mounted on the other end of said first conduit andextending away therefrom;

a frame for supporting said container, said frame including an enlargedenclosure surrounding and spaced from said second conduit and insulationmeans filling said enclosure surrounding said second conduit; and

heating means associated with said second conduit for heating and dryingthe mist flowing therethrough.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said first conduit is fixedagainst movement with respect to said frame and including means formoving said container toward and away from said first conduit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,914,221 11/1959 Rosenthal219-301 XR 3,098,925 7/1963 Fouts et al. 219-214 3,116,403 12/1963Carter 219301 3,134,191 5/1964 Davis 222146 3,207,369 9/1965 Rossi222146 XR ANTHONY BARTIS, Primary Examiner.

1. A DEVICE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF DRY AEROSOLS FOR SOLUTIONS, WHICHCOMPRISES: A PRESSURE CONTAINER FOR DISCHARGING THE SOLUTION UNDERPRESSURE, SAID PRESSURE CONTAINER HAVING A PROJECTING HEAD THROUGH WHICHTHE SOLUTION IS DISCHARGED; A FIRST CONDUIT MOUNTED AT ONE END THEREOFON SAID HEAD AND EXTENDING AWAY THEREFROM, SAID FIRST CONDUIT HAVING ANENLARGED FREE SPACED THEREWITHIN INTO WHICH THE SOLUTION FLOWS ANDBECOMES PRESENT AS A MIST THEREIN, SAID FIRST CONDUIT FURTHER INCLUDINGA FIRST PORTION SLIDABLY SLEEVED ON SAID HEAD AND A SECOND PORTIONEXTENDING AT AN ANGLE TO SAID FIRST PORTION, SAID ENLARGED FREE SPACEBEING FORMED IN SAID SECOND PORTION; A SECOND CONDUIT MOUNTED ON THEOTHER END OF SAID FIRST CONDUIT AND EXTENDING AWAY THEREFROM; A FRAMEFOR SUPPORTING SAID CONTAINER, SAID FRAME INCLUDING AN ENLARGEDENCLOSURE SURROUNDING AND SPACED FROM SAID SECOND CONDUIT AND INSULATIONMEANS FILLING SAID ENCLOSURE SURROUNDING SAID SECOND CONDUIT; ANDHEATING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SECOND CONDUIT FOR HEATING AND DRYINGTHE MIST FLOWING THERETHROUGH.